Apparatus, method and system for mobile wireless communication hand-off utilizing ISDN multiway capabilities

A system for hand-off of a communication session utilizing multiway capabilities, in which the communication session of a mobile unit on a first call path is transferred from a serving base station to a target base station, the system comprising:

• a plurality of base stations, the plurality of base stations including the serving base station and the target base station, wherein the serving base station includes instructions to request a second call path to the target base station and to request a multiway feature;
• and
• a switch coupled to the serving base station and to the target base station, wherein the switch includes instructions to establish the second call path from the serving base station to the target base station via the switch, and to combine the communication session of the first call path with the second call path to form a multiway communication session;
• and when the mobile unit has communicated with the target base station for continuation of the communication session through a first leg of the multiway communication session;
• the switch includes further instructions to release the serving base station from a second leg of the multiway communication session.

An apparatus for hand-off of a communication session, in which the communication session of a mobile unit on a first call path is transferred from a serving base station to a target base station via a switch, the apparatus comprising:

• a network interface for communication with the switch and with the mobile unit;
• a memory storing instructions;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory and to the network interface, wherein the processor is configured to request a second call path to the target base station via the switch, and to direct the switch to merge the first call path and the second call path to form a multiway communication session, and wherein the processor is further configured to release from a first segment of the multiway communication session for continuation of the communication session through a second segment of the multiway communication session.

An apparatus for hand-off of a communication session, in which the communication session of a mobile unit on a first call path is transferred from a serving base station to a target base station, the apparatus comprising:

• a network interface for communication with the serving base station and the target base station;
• a memory storing instructions;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory and to the network interface, wherein the processor is configured, upon reception of a message from the serving base station, to generate a second call path between the serving base station and the target base station, and to merge the first call path and the second call path to form a multiway communication session for continuation of the communication session through a first segment of the multiway communication session.

A serving base station for hand-off of a communication session, in which the communication session of a mobile unit on a first call path is transferred from the serving base station to a target base station via a switch, the serving base station comprising:

• a network interface for communication with the switch, with the target base station, and with the mobile unit;
• a memory storing instructions;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory and to the network interface, wherein the processor is configured to receive a designated directory number of a terminal of the target base station;
• to transmit to the switch, through the network interface, a call set up message and one or more information messages specifying the designated directory number for generation of a second call path to the target base station via the switch and further specifying a multiway feature directing the switch to merge the first call path and the second call path to form a multiway communication session between and among the serving base station, the switch, and the target base station;
• and when the mobile unit has communicated with the target base station, the processor being further configured to direct the switch to release the serving base station from the multiway communication session.

A switch for hand-off of a communication session utilizing multiway capabilities, in which the communication session of a mobile unit on a first call path is transferred from a serving base station to a target base station, the switch comprising:

• a network interface for communication with the serving base station and the target base station;
• a memory storing instructions;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory and to the network interface, wherein the processor is configured, upon reception of a call set up message and one or more information messages from the serving base station specifying the designated directory number and further specifying a multiway feature, generating a second call path from the serving base station to the target base station and merging the first call path and the second call path to form a multiway communication session between and among the serving base station, the switch, and the target base station;
• and when the mobile unit has communicated with the target base station, the processor being further configured, upon reception of a disconnect request from the serving base station, to release the serving base station from the multiway communication session.